Method for the continuous production of synthetic fibers



Jan. l0, 1950 B. BoRzYKowsKl 2,494,468

METHOD FCR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION oF SYNTHETIC FIBERs Filed Nov. 12,1943 7 sheets-sheet 1 A TF0 R AfL-VY.

.Fo EO E950 B BoRzYKowsKl 2,494,468

METHOD FOR'THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION 0F SYNTHETIC FIBERS Filed Nov. l2.1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan., E0, E950 B. BoRzYKowsKl 2,494,468

METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS 7 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Nov. l2, 1943 INVENToR. 1&)1/1140 www Afro/tmf y Jan; w, 1950 86 Aw m A 2 B. BORZYKOWSKI METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OFSYNTHETIC FIBERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nav. 12, 194s INVENTOR.

' 5mm OVG Jan. w, yE950 B. BoRzYKowsKu NETHOO FOR THE CONTINUOUSPRODUCTION OE SYNTHETIC EIEERs 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. l2, 194.3

mw @u mm. @my Wmv Jam, EG, i959 B. BoRzYKowsKl 2,494,468

METHOD FOR THF: CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC FTBERS Filed Nov. 12,194s 7 sheets-sheet e BY QW AI77/W05 Y J, m9 11950 B. BoRzYKowsKl NETHOOFOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION 0F SYNTHETIC FIBERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 7Filed NOV. `l2, 1943 IN V EN TOR. lfm an/y/Qw/' BY ffm .427? RNE' XPatented Jan. l0, 1950 METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUC- TION OFSYNTHETIC FIBERS Benno Borzykowski, New York, N. Y., assignor toilmingto Swiss Borvisk Company, W

n, Del.

Application November l2, 1943, Serial No. 510,004

4 claims. l

This invention relates to a method for the continuous or directproduction of synthetic twisted or untwisted fibers and yarns suitablefor direct use on textile machines.

The term direct or continuous used in this specification with regard tothe herein described manufacturing process indicates that from themoment the spinning mass is extruded through the forming orifices theformations are conducted through a plurality of treating phases andconverted into endless finished fibers, cut staple bers and staple fiberyarn intermediates, staple ber yarns and finished endless threads,without having been previously wound on drums, reels, bobbins or intocakes, packages or the like.

The term "solidification used in this specification includes any kind ofconversion of a suitable basic not solid raw material, for instance,also a molten spinning mass into a solid filament.

The term lament denominates the products obtained by solidification ofthe extruded spinning mass formations while being in an unfinishedstate. The articles obtained in an untwisted form after the solidifiedfilaments have been subjected to finishing treatments are termed in thisspecification finished fibers. The twisted finished endless fibers aretermed threads These fibers may be converted within the framework ofthis invention into staple fibers, staple ber yarn intermediates such astops, slivers, rovings and finished staple fiber yarns of apredetermined denier and lwith a predeterminedv number of individualbers.

This terminology is not different from the one customarily used in theart; however, it has been considered advisable to create a clearsituation with regard to the technical nomenclature used in thisspecification in order to exclude misunderstandings.

Since the birth of' the art the production of synthetic bers and threadshas been and is still being carried out as follows:

The spinning masses or spinning solutions are extruded in anapproximately round, flat or similar shape from a single orifice, suchas a capillary tube, or from a number of openings in the nozzle orspinnerette, and the formations are conducted either through appropriatemedia, for instance heated air, when working according to the socalleddry spinning process, where the volatile solvent is evaporated, or coldair where the spinning mass formations are chilled-or through acoagulation bath in the wet spinning process.

The freshly coagulated filaments are guided vertically to carriers, suchas bobbins, reels, or

they are led vertically to godets which pull the filaments with acertain speed from the solidifying phase to individual pots driven at ahigh speed wherein the filaments are thrown by centrifugal force againstthe pot walls; thereby the filaments are twisted together and with theaid of a special guide simultaneously assembled in a cake.

For many applications synthetic fibers of a high tensile strength arerequired; this is obtained when the fibers are stretched during theirformation by means of positively driven stretching devices; as describedin my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,401,943 and 1,450,131. Fiber bundles of aheavy total denier having a high tensile strength and high flexibilityare of great importance in the production of, for instance, rubber tirecords for heavy loads where threads of 2400 and possibly 4800 denierspreferably directly spun in one jet, are required. If using bobbins orpots, 250 gram packages will, therefore yield threads of a continuouslength of only 800 m. in 2400' den. and of only 400 m. in 4800 den.,whereas to avoid as much as possible big knots which such heavy denierswill produce in the cords, tire-fabrics and similar articles threads ofmany thousands of meters in length should be used.

The use of larger bobbins or pots to obtain threads of greater lengthhaving less knots is impractical and uneconomic for the followingreasons: A

Larger bobbins or pots will cause a considerable reduction of the numberof threads which would be produced per standard size spinning machine,and the larger cakes will complicate the finishing treatments and resultin th formation of threads of inferior physical properties due to theconstant reduction of the diameter of the collecting space in the pot,causing uneven tension of the thread.

The present day spinning machines which due to the complicated system ofindividual driving devices for each bobbin, each godet or each potcannot be built at costs as low as other thread producing machines, andfurthermore, the short life of said spinning machines and the high powerconsumption are further adverse factors.

Although in my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,401,943 and 1,450,131 I have shownthe manner how to stretch the filaments during thevcoagulation by meansof positively driven cylinder rotated with a higher circumferentialspeed than the cylinder which draws the fibers from the coagulationbath, the threads produced on the vertical spinning machines do notpossess the properties obtainable stance, 1200 den. is spun with a speedof only 50 meters per minute, the thread in formation will remain incontact with the coagulation liquid in the trough for a fraction of asecond only.

which is not suiiicient for such a heavy denier.

The dimculty to add drawing godets to the standard centrifugal potspinning machine for the purpose of obtaining positive stretchingactions between two godets is obvious, and it is also evident that themachine must become more complicated and crowded, when such a greatnumber of godets are provided for these purposes; furthermore, it is ahighly inefcient procedure to wind each thread around each drawing godetand each stretching godet and to provide in order to prevent the threadsto fall on from the godets or to slip upon the same glass or similarindividual guides for each thread near each godet as this causesuncontrollable and uneven frictions and consequently variations in theorientation of the miscelles, of the tensile strength etc.

In order to fully understand the advantages of the inventionparticularly for the production of high tensile strength syntheticfibers, a description of the present methods used in the art seemsappropriate.

In accordance with the present practice, the so-called high tenacityrayon .threads are, after having been dried and wound on bobbins,hereafter warped in a second operation in an untwisted or only slightlytwisted stage on standard or special size rayon beams. Several hundredthreads are spread out between the heads of the beams placed apartapproximately 54 inches. The weightl of the yarn on the beam variesdepending on the denier and number of the threads wound on the same, butit may well be assumed that the same will be about 800 lbs.

The reasons for the customary supply of said so-called high tenacityrayon threads on beams are that better mechanical properties areexpected to result when the threads of the rayon warp are treated withan aqueous dispersion again on another specially built machine,stretched in the course of said treatment, again dried and wound onanother beam.' Without going further into the question whether thequality of the iinished product can actually be improved by a secondwetting, stretching, drying and beaming, there can be no doubt that evenif this would be a simple procedure but could be avoided by my processand apparatus, there would be an important advance in the art ofproduction of high tenacity rayon.

However, the complicated and unpractical procedure above referred to isconsiderably increased when the following is considered:

From a beam of 54 inches upon which, as stated. several hundred threadsare wound, the threads must be conducted to as many twisting spindles tobe provided with the required twist for the tire cords. Several hundredspindles in a row require many times the space ofthe beam 4 even ifsmallest size twisting spools are used in order to bring the spindlescloser together; this again causes much more knots in the cords incomparison with the use of big size spindles and twisting bobbins.

The object of the invention is the production of synthetic fibers by thewet or dry spinning process from any kind of raw material, by using aspecial simple and inexpensive equipment for the formation and, ifrequired, stretching, neutralizing, impregnating, drying or for othertreating steps by conducting horizontally all of the great number of theiilamentvbundles produced on the entire machine to a common and not toan individually driven device for each bundle and leading the same fromthe moment the filaments are extruded from the spinnerettes through allthe required treating stages with a great production speed and bywinding the same in the finished form in practically endless length assingle or plied bundles of capillary bers in untwisted form on specialreels suitable to form, if required, a

beam or on any other carrier suitable for the l direct use on textilemachines.

, A further object of said new process and equipment is, as abovestated, to produce said threads with a much higher tensile strength,greater iiexibility, thorough impregnation with latex containingdispersions, perfect adhesion of the same tol a greater length has beenwound on the collecting device than extruded per time unit from thespin- A nerette and hereafter coaguiated in the precipitation medium.Upon further investigation confirmed by practice I was surprised to findthat much better results are obtained when the following rules areobserved:

That in the viscose (cellulose xanthogenate) process, for instance thespinning solutions have a higher concentration than normally used,namely at least 8% preferably lil-12% cellulose contents.

That the viscose be fresh or in the first stage of its maturity, namelyC12 or Cra stages. Under no circumstances shall the viscose change intoxanthogenate:

(CqEoOxh CntCS BNa or into a higher polymerization described as a'necessity, e. g. in German Patent No. 187,369 and still used in theindustry.

That the precipitation (coagulation) must not be sudden but slow so thatthe filaments shall remain in a semi-plastic stage during the severalstages of stretching and elongation, as hereafter more fully described.In the case of fresh vis- A cose to produce 300 den. with a speed of150-180 the size or denier of each capillary filament and the size ordenier of each bundle of filaments and further depending on the tensilestrength, flexibility and elasticity required in the final product; atany rate, the stretching shall be carried out in two or more stageswhereby between the first i and second and the subsequent stretchingstages to shrink or'- 2' l agents nor to the quantities thereof to besusthe thread shall be given a chance contract to a certain extent.

For certain purposes, as for the production of cords for rubber tires,rubber belting, skatingrequirements and the applications of the finalrollers and the like, the filaments must be treatedA with suspensionscontaining latex, resins etc.

The difiiculty which the rubber tire producers have in obtaining athorough impregnation even of cotton threads having more or less fuzzyor rough surfaces with rubber and the proper adhesion of the same to thefilaments is well known. These difiiculties are increased considerablywhen synthetic, e. g. viscose fibers, having a smooth surface aretreated with such rubber suspensions. Numerous processes have beenproposed to overcome these obstacles. According to British Patent435,395 a suggestion is made to wind the fibers on perforated beams andtreat the thus produced cheeses by soaking the latex through the sameand removing the excess latex with air pressure and thereupon double andtwist the undried threads by machines of the flyer or ring travelertype.

While investigating the problem of treating synthetic threads withdispersions I found that these difficulties may be avoided by using theprocess forming another object of my invention which comprises as animportant object (1) Impregnating the fibers with dispersions A in sucha manner that each individual filament is subjected to this type oftreatment. This aim is achieved at a time when the capillary filamentsare yet untwisted, lie parallel to each .other and are not dried as yet.Sometimes it may-be of great importance that the threads should beimpregnated and at the same time stretched orshrunk, thereupon dried andwound, beamed untwisted or twisted in the same continuous operation andhereafter, eventuallyalso in the same continuous operation united undercertain temperature and pressure with other materials.

(2) Adding to the spinning mass, for instance' to the viscose solution,one or a mixture of several ingredients usually employed in the latexdispersion which are soluble or remain in colloidal form in saidspinning solutions, but after preon the individual capillary :fiberforming a rough surface or a. somewhat porous surface if leached outfrom the formations. i

A very small admixture of these agents to the spinning mass sumces forthese purposes inasmuch as the aqueous latex dispersion due to thepresent invention is applied on each capillary thread before thefilaments are dried, viz. immediately after the washing and beforedesulphurisation, but after squeezing out the surplus of the washingliquid from the filaments by rollers or other means as hereafter morefully described. The latex dispersion penetrates easily into the soft,not entirely solidied filaments and .ad-,

heres strongly to the rough surface threof.

Latex dispersions usually containin addition to other ingredientssulphur, carbon black and zinc oxide; 23% of .these substances inadmixture with a barium compound calculated on the weight of thecellulose in the viscose solution emulsifiedand finely dispersed thereinvwill in mostl cases be sumcient to produce .a rough surface on eachcapillary filament. g The latex dispersion will penetrate quite deeplyinto each capillary filament even without using an appropriate wettingagent.

I do not limit myself to the above recited pended in the'viscose orother spinning masses as the same can vary considerably depending on theproducts. 'I vhezadmixture of a barium compound to the viscose-solutiongiven by way of examplevonly shows to the man skilled in the art oneVway hovvv ether, resin, protein and even on natural fibers,-

by incorporating into the starting material or by the impregnation ofthe nished fibers with bodies having the characteristics of the bariumcompound, i. e. to remain finely dispersed in the spinning orimpregnating solutions and upon a precipitation of the same to formcoarse grains of an insoluble` precipitate, such as barium sulphate onand in the fibers which after thorough washing to remove the solublesalts, remain practically insoluble in water.

(3) In addition to or independent of the above cited process to procurea, proper anchoring of the latex dispersion tothe synthetic fibers, thefresh formations after having undergone the stretching or positiveelongation, but before they are entirely set, being subjected in courseof the further operation to a mechanical surfaceA crimping action, forinstance passing the samev over grooved-rollers, as more fully describedheretherein has a kind of a fuzzy surface, also facilitates a properanchoring or adhesion of the latex dispersion; A

As apparentv vfrom the above, it is the :main object of the invention toobtain in one single 5 continuous operation continuous s thetic fibers,cipitation of theformations -adhere firmly in and yn tion to greatlysimplify the manufacture and im-` prove the quality of synthetic fibersand yarns and to accordingly enhance the economy ofthe production.

It is an equallyim'portant object of the invention to obtain thefinished synthetic fibers,l

threads and yarns as substantially endless and knotless bodies. 4

It is also an object of the invention to carry out the treatmentsadapted to convert the endless bers into staple bers, staple berintermediates, such as tops, slivers and the like, and staple ber yarns,when they are still untwisted and in substantially parallel alinement.

It is an essential object of the invention to produce chemically andmechanically uniform articles.

It is an important object of the invention to exclude manual handlingwith its accompanying injuries to the ber and to accomplish themanufacture of the nal articles in one continuous operation.

It is also an object of the invention to improve the mechanicalproperties of the synthetic bers, threads, intermediates and yarns andparticularly their tensile strength and flexibility,

absorptiveness for surface roughening agents,`

and to reduce brittleness.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a manufacturingmethod which permits an easy variation of the working conditions and inconformity therewith of the mechanical properties, of the denier of thefinished threads, of the surface characteristics, without aninterruption of the continuity of the manufacturing procedure.

It is also an object of the invention to modify the surface congurationof the threads in the regular course of the manufacture for a specifieduse.

It is an object of the invention to improve the sanitary conditions oi'the manufacturing installations and to prevent contamination of the airwith fumes and sprays emanating from the various treatments.

It is another object of the invention to increase the working capacityof themanufacturing appliances or spinning units.

With these and further objects in view which will become apparent asthis specication proceeds, the invention is illustrated by way of ex.

ample in the attached drawings in its application to the production ofsubstantially endless and irnotless synthetic untwisted or twisted bersand wound up ber bodies and to the conversion of the fibers into staplefibers, staple ber intermediates and staple ber yarns, in a form readyfor use on textile machines.

With the above recited purposes' and other purposes in view which willbecome apparent as this specification proceeds the invention is by Wayof example illustrated in the annexed drawings as applied to a Wetspinning process.

It is, however, Well understood that any not solid spinning masses maybe employed in conjunction with this invention adapted to be convertedby solidication into filaments, bers and ber bundles.

In the drawings,

Figs. l and la is a vertical sectional view of a part of a spinningmachine to be used for the production of synthetic nished bers inconformity with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a part of the ma.- chine shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a conveyor roller for use in theoperation of the machine,

Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional view of a modication of a part of thespinning machine shown in Fig. l, including superposed coagulationbaths.

Fig. is a vertical frontv elevation of a reel assembly for upwindlng thefinished bers,

Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of an auxiliary device for use in thetreatment of the filaments,

Figs. 1l and l2 are vertical sectional elevations of two modificationsof the machine shown in The solidilying zone As shown in the drawings myhorizontal spinning machine comprises a table I and a plurality ofcoagulating and treating troughs supported on foundation blocks 3 andencased in enclosure 2. Openings IIO are provided in the walls of theenclosure 2 which is closable by slides III; 'a dome I I2 is located inthe ceiling of the enclosure for the accumulation of gases and vaporswhich are withdrawn therefrom. Grooves II3 provided in table I serve tocollect and to discharge waste liquid.

Candle lters 4 for the nal filtration of the spinning solution aremounted on table I which extends transversely through the entireoperating width of the machine.

Pipe systems I3 and l.Il for the supply of the spinning solutions arelocated underneath table I. Pumps I5 driven by gears Ill are connectedwith supply pipes I3, I4. Pipes 5 connect the candle filters with thespinnerettes 6 which feed into the coagulation baths.

According to the present exemplification of the invention threecoagulation baths 1,-., I

are provided which are located in direct succession in the longitudinaldirection of the machine, and contained in troughs I0, II, I2. Each ofthese coagulation troughs extends transversely through the entireoperating width of the machine or of the adjacent spinnerettes. Thetroughs are divided by removable partitions I6 in adjacent compartmentsI1 to receivethe filaments produced by' the individual spinnerettes. Ifit is desired to increase the productive ca pacity' of the spinningmachine without enlarging the operating width two sets of pumps and fedsystems, double sets of lters located on the table in staggeredrelationship may be installed as shown in Figs. l and 2.

'I'hls arrangement is particularly useful if instead of, for instance,1100 denier 2200 denier bers with the double amount of filaments are.

required for certain purposes such as the man- A ufacture of tire cords.

In this case partitions I6 are removed and larger compartments I8 areformed, receiving two bundles of laments I9 from two spinnerettes whichare united by a guide cylinder 20 to form one lament bundle.

This modication of the invention may be advantageously used incombination with the staggered arrangement of the candle filters.

Conveyor roller aggregates composed of a plurality, for instance, threerollers 2i, 22, 23 are mounted above coagulation bath 1. 'These rollersextend transversely to the longitudinal extension of the machine throughits full operating width. the operating with of the machine mvysubstantially corresponding to the operating width of all spinnerettes.

The conveyor roller aggregates perform functions which are highlyimportant inasmuch as the size and the properties of the fibers arelargely influenced by their specific operation. 'I'he location of theconveyor roller aggregates is adjustable in the longitudinal directionof the machine; this makes it possible t vary the distance thereof fromthe spinnerettes or the coagulating path between the spinnerettes andthe conveyor rollers. Needless to state that other ways may be used tovary the coagulating path.

The coagulating path may be constant if a specific fiber or yarn withcertain properties as to its tensile strength and elongation or otherproperties is to be produced at a predetermined speed; if, however,different types of fibers,

threads or yarns with derent properties or of a change of the productlonspeed is desired, the distance of the roller aggregate from the outletof the spinnerettes may be adjusted by displacement of the same or bydisplacement of partition wall H in the longitudinal direction toshorten or lengthen at will the operating path or length in thecoagulating baths.

A further important function of the rollers which are partly positivelydriven is to exert a stretching action upon the filaments which in ageneral way is recited in my Patents 1,401,943 and 1,450,131; thisstretching treatment adds in a specific manner greatly to the success ofthe present continuous process, as explained in a later part of thisspecification.

All filaments extruded from all spinnerettes of the machine aretransported by roller 2i through coagulation bath 'l and maintainedunderneath its level by guide cylinder 20; instead of the guidecylinders other suitable guiding devices such as guide hooks may beused.

The conveyor rollers are made from materials which are not attacked bythe chemicals used in the process, such as organic solvents, oils, etc.;they should preferably have a, sumciently large circumference so thatthe filaments will not slip or slide thereon.

Roller 2i draws all the filaments i@ produced in the machine with apredetermined speed from the coagulating solution without any or with avery small tensioning action in order to avoid breakage of the tendersemi-gelatinous filaments.

Roller 22 rotated at a greater circumferential speed than roller` 2iwill stretch or elongate the filaments accordingly, whereas roller 23will, depending upon the changing requirements, be either rotated with asomewhat lower speed to reduce the stretching action or with a highercircumferential speed than roller 22 to exert an additional stretchingor elongating action.

If, for instance, roller 2l draws 100 m. of the filaments per minutefrom the coagulation bath, roller 22 may be operated to draw 110 metersper minute; this will result in an elongation of If roller 23 is thendriven to draw only 109 meters per minute, the shrinkage or retractionof the laments between rollers 22 and 23 will be one meter and the totalelongation 9%.

This retraction is very advantageous if, depending on the denier of eachcapillary filament, a high tensile strength in addition to an averageelasticity of the finished fibers is desired; if, however, a lowerelasticity is required and a higher tensile strength, an additionalelongation between the rollers 22 and 23 may be advisable.

Depending upon the number of the capillary l filaments to be assembledin the individual bundles and on the tension imparted to the same whenconducted through the various producing stages, the conveyor rollers maybe provided with grooves 25, Fig. 3, which also prevent the lamentbundles from being entangled.

To further assist and to promote the action of the grooves and toprevent the slipping out and breaking away of the individual filamentsfrom the bundles a device is located in the traveling path of thefilaments before they reach the conveyor rollers 2|, 22, 23, which Iprefer to denominate as a false or incomplete twister.

This device, shown in Figs. 1 and 10, is composed of two rods 26, |21.These rods are mounted on a beam 39 extending through the width of themachine; the rods are staggered as shown in Fig. 10. The change of thetraveling direction imparts to the filaments a slight twisting action.

Partition wall H5 may be made displaceable in the traveling direction ofthe filaments, which displacement serves, as previously explained, tovary the coagulation path.

The adjustment of the coagulation path which may be obtained by anyother suitable means is of great importance for the operation of mycontinuous process because the longer or shorter contact withcoagulating liquids of dierent composition, for instance acidity,greatly inuences the coagulating procedure and correspondingly the nalproperties of the coagulated filaments.

The filaments discharged from roller aggregate 2i to 23 are conductedinto coagulation bath t and kept therein under the level of thecoagulating fluid by means of cylinders 20. The filaments are then drawnfrom this coagulation bath by rollers 2l, 20, t. In conformity with theabove remarks the coagulation in the ilrst bath l can easily be adjustedto obtain an uncomplete coagulation, whereupon the filaments duringtheir passage through roller aggregate 2l-23 are stretched betweenrollers 22, 23 shrunk or additionally stretched between rollers 22, 23and then conducted into the second coagulation bath 8.

Roller 2l acts as a mere transport means. Roller 28 pressing by inertiaon the filaments is rotated by friction and removes in cooperation withroller 2l excessive coagulation liquid. Roller 29 is driven at a greatercircumferential speed than roller 2l and therefore exerts acorresponding stretching action upon the filaments, whereas roller 30 isoperated in a manner which is similar to that of roller 23, that is witha higher or lower circumferential speed than that of roller 29.

A permanent orientation of the miscelles is hereby effected in theibrous filaments.

Roller 3l cooperates with roller 30 in the same manner as roller 28 withroller 2l.

Rollers 30, 3i may be provided with projections or teeth 33 to produceon the incompletely solidied filaments surface irregularities in theform of rings or grooves before they are conducted into media adapted toconvert the same into the iinished fibers. The subdivision of thecoagulation into individual stages or baths which renders it possible tocontrol the same in such a manner that the filaments in the first stageor bath are incompletely coagulated and that the coagulation is thencontinued and completed in the additional baths or coagulating stagesis, as already previously stated, an important element of the invention.Whereas in the rst stage 1 of the coagulation practically no or solittle pull or tension is exerted on the freshly formed illamentsthatthey pass through bath 1 in the freely suspended horizontal disposition,the iilaments after leaving bath I are stretched on their way to thesecond bath 8 by rotating roller 22 with a circumferential speed inexcess to the speed of roller 2|. A further stretching or shrinkingaction may be applied to the iilaments by adjustment of thecircumferential speed oi rollers 21, 2l, 30.

A principle oi feeding the coagulating liquid is employed in connectionwith my invention which as yet has never been and could not have beenapplied to the vertical manufacture of synthetic illaments, nbers andthreads.

In accordance with this novel supply system the coagulating liquid isintroduced into the coagulating troughs in countercurrent to thetraveling direction oi the nlaments. The successful realisation oi thisfeed principle is rendered possible by my continuous horizontal process.The fresh precipitation liquid heated to the required temperature ispreferably supplied at that end of the troughs which is opposite to theillament entering end.

The application of the countercurrent principle makes it possible togradually reduce the alkalinity oi' the laments, to contact the extrudedspinning mass with a coagulating medium oi lowest acidity which isgradually increased/as the solidilcation of the laments progresses.

The countercurrent feed of the coagulating liquid has resulted in asurprising improvement of the mechanical properties of the threads andparticularly the tensile strength.

In accordance with the above explained principle supply tubes 34 for thecoagulating liquid are mounted near to the rear end of the troughs, andvertical branches 35 extending into the troughs are connected to thismain feed tube. The overiiowing liquid passes into discharge funnels 31and from there into discharge pipes 33.

The lament drawn from the coagulation bath meets the fresh coagulationliquid having the highest degree of acidity which gradually decreases inproportion to the increase of solidiilcation. The feed velocity of thecoagulating liquid and the acid concentration is so calculated that inthe vicinity of the nozzles, where the iet of the spinning solutionimmerges into the coagulant, a state of near neutrality but ofsuilicient acidity prevails to prevent alkalization of the coagulant.Tis countrcurrent feed system is not restricted to coagulationsolutions, but is likewise usable with any other solidifying medium,such as hot or cold air, gas and the like.

The third and final solidiiying bath 9 is equipped in a similar manneras the proceeding coagulation baths 1 and 8.

The third roller aggregate 4I, 42, R3. 44. Fig. 1a, constructedsimilarly to roller aggregate 21 to 3|, with the only omission of roller3i, draws the maments out of trough 9.

A modified arrangement oi' the coagulation equipment is shown in Fig. i,whereby the manufacturing capacity oi the machine is greatly increasedwithout enlarging the operating width.

For this purpose a plurality oi superposed staggered spinnerettes 6 maybe provided in trough 48, or a plurality oi' superposed coagulatingtroughs 45 and 48 with several superposed rows of spinnerettes i may beinstalled.

By extruding the spinning solutions into the coagulation troughs 45, 46two superposed rows of filaments bundles I9 are produced which areconducted through the coagulating bath and emerge from the bath overguide rollers 41. The filaments are drawn from the baths by positivelydriven rollers 48 located in a dripping trough 49 and jointly dischargedinto a coagulation bath 53. They are conducted by a three rolleraggregate 50, 5i, 52 which is similarly constructed to roller aggregate2|, 22. 23, into another coagulation bath and subjected to furthertreatment in the same manner as described in conjunction with Figs. 1and 1a.

Il' the threads are used for the manufacture of tire cords or forsimilar purposes, where they are treated with a sulphur containingrubber or latex dispersion, the spinning machine can be made muchshorter as the desulphurizing, washing, bleaching, washing, acidifyingand washing may be elimin-ated.

If the threads are used for standard weaving and knitting purposesrequiring only standard tensile strength and elasticity and need not bepurely white, the spinning machine can also be shortened by usinganother treatment step forming a part of this invention, namely theapplication of only one agent which will convert the coagulatedunpurified iilaments in one single operation in its purified form.

If, for instance, a viscose spinning solution is used, a treatmentconsisting of (1) Washing the threads wound on perforated bobbins orcollected in pots in the shape of cakes on special machines to ,absoluteneutrality,

(2) Desulphurizing with a hot sodium suliide is replaced by passing theslightly rinsed, still acid laments into a hot solution of sodium sulte.The concentration oi this solution may be varied in dependence upon thesize (denier) of the individual ilaments, the number of the nlaments ineach bundle, the speed oi production and other working conditions.

The sodium sulilte dissolves the sulphur contained in and deposited onthe surface of the illaments; on the other hand it reacts with the acidci the coagulation bath adhering to the filaments and neutralizes thesame whereby one part of the NazSOa is decomposed under the formation ofH2803 which exercises a bleaching action on the filaments. The sodiumsulite solution at the same time eliminates the salts contained on thefibers. A 2% sodium suliite solution and a treating temperature ofbetween 60 to 65 C. will in most cases give satisfactory results.

The thus treated filaments require only simple short rinsing with hotwater; the above reierred to long tiresome series of apparatus.operations, space of installation, power, injury oi the fibers may thusbe avoided.

Instead of sodium-sulte another agent acting in the same or similarmanner may be employed.

The'same result is obtainable in the production of filaments from otherstarting materials, such as formations from a cuprammonium-cellu- 13lose solution which may be treated, as above described, immediatelyafter the elimination of its copper content with sulphuric acid. v

At the end of the iinishing stage and before the filaments are conductedinto the drying zone, the following important treatment constituting anadditional object of my invention may be employed.

The tension of the illaments is loosened but only to such an extent thatthey do not contact each other or do not slide on the bottom of thetreating trough into which they are conducted A hot emulsion or solutionis kept in the trough in constant circulation in order to penetrate intoeach individual capillary illament from which liquids contained thereinfrom previous treatments have been squeezed out as much as possiblethrough rollers or other appropriate devices.

The type oi emulsion or solution to be used for this treatment willdepend upon the intended application.

If they are to be used (1) For a high twist as required for ne stocklugsor the like an easily saponiable oil or emulsion as usually used bythrowsters to produce crape twist may be employed;

(2) For weaving warps the filaments may be sized with customary proteinsizing compounds;

(3) For use in circular rashel or warp knitting machines a mineral oilemulsion will produce goed results;

(fl) For the direct production of a 100% spun rayon continuous yarn or a100% partly spun and partly continuous rayon yarn produced in onesimultaneous operation on my spinning machins, it is advantageous to use(a) In case of bright rayon where no dulling agents have been added tothe spinning mass a slightly alkaline hot soap and vegetable oilemulsion containing, for instance, a nely divided barium or similarlyacting compound; the iilaments are drawn through a bath made up of thisagent and are then passed into an adjacent trough containing dilutedsulphuric acid which precipitates an insoluble compound on the surfaceof the iibers giving the same a somewhat rough touch and dulled luster.

This treatment improves the adhesion of the cut staple fibers to eachother and the conversion oi the same intospun rapon threads as hereaftermore fully explained.

(b) In case dull threads are spun from solutions or masses into whichoils and/or fats with an addition of a barium or similar compound hasbeen admixed, it is suiiicient if the threads after having been freedfrom the residual uids oi foregoing treatments are drawn through atrough containing a hot sulphonated oil emulsion to prevent completedrying of the loose untwistecl capillary laments in the drying zone andto render the same more pliable and exible for further speciallymechanical operations.

In order to start the operation of my horizontal spinning machine eitherprovided with a series of successive single coagulation troughs, asshown in Figs. 1 and 1a, or with a multiple of superposed coagulationtroughs having a multiple of superposed rows oi iilaments as shown inFig. 4, each individual bundle of capillary laments emerging from thecoagulation baths may rst be wound on reels 54, shown in Fig. 4, whichrotate in troughs 55 containing sullphuric acid to convert the threadsin cellulose hydrate.

As soon as all threads from all spinnerettes have been wound on thesereels, the entire row of illamets is caught by a bar or the like and conducted through the successive coagulating and treating baths, the dryingzone and the subsequent stages of my machine, which will be more fullydescribed as this specification proceeds. A8 soon as all rows offilaments have been set into operation in this manner, the work iscontinuous- 1y carried out without interruption, the troughs 55 withrollers 54 being discarded from the regular operation of the machine.

The fibers wound on the reels 54 may be used for the production ofstaple fibers or other suitable purposes.

In case the spinning of a bundle of filaments is interrupted, therestarting of the continuous spinning of the respective bundle may becarried out in the following manner:

'Ihe iilter or the nozzle or both are replaced; the extruded freshfilament bundle is attached to an adjacentcontinuous bundle at asuitable point after the extrusion and carried by the same through theentire machine; there it is wound on a new reel or bobbin or knottedtogether with the broken end.

The finishing and drying zone through the entire operating width of themachine are located in this zone in ldirect horizontal succession.

Treating liquids are supplied to the troughs according to the individualrequirements. Only one trough t is shown in Fig. 1a for purposes ofillustration. The laments are conducted through these nishing troughs bythe same type of roller equipment and guiding means used in thesoliditying zone.

A drying installation of customary construction indicated in thedrawings lby cylinders 5l is arranged in direct horizontal succession tothe nishing troughs.

Conveyor rollers 5t are provided to discharge the finished dry bundles59 from enclosure 2.

Any modern drying equipment driven at a speed synchronized with theabove described part of my continuous spinning machine will worksatisfactorily if precautions are taken to properly deal with continuousuntwisted fibers and provisions are made to have variable speed drivesto control the stretching and shrinking of the filaments passing throughthe dryer in the manner as this is carried out in the case of rayonwarps.

After-finishing sone Contrary to the customary procedure used in rayonmanufacturing plants where the threads are wound on bobbins from whichrayon warps are made on speci-a1 machines whereby many hundreds or somethousands of threads are wound on =a common beam from which, asdescribed above, al1 the threads are led through another machine to besized, dried and again wound a second time on beams, three alternativeways dealing with the dried continuous untwisted bers or fiber bundlesare provided in conformity with my invention signifying s. markeddeviation from andV a considerable advance inthe state of me art.y

(1) If it is the intention to-utilize the threads in the untwistedstate, for instance, for further conversion into rayon cords, the dried.fiber bundles 68 eventually treated with a latex dispersion are wound onreels illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, to assemble thereon greatlengths of fibers.

This device comprises a plurality of reels Il! of a rather largediameter; the reels are mounted adjacent to each other on square shafts6I. The reels are provided with square recesses 82 which are sodimensioned as to :be easily slid onto shafts 6I. Spacer rings 63fastened on shafts 6I by screws 64 are provided to hold the reels on theshafts in such a manner that their center is in alinement with thecenter of the thread guide.

In order to be able to wind several bundles and larger quantities of thethreads on each reel common shaft for each row which will turn each reelby friction devices will in certain cases .be desirable, for instance,if different lengths of threads are required on some of the reels, or ifa fiber bundle was broken and restarted after a certain lapse of time sothat the respective reel will hold less yarn when the thread wasrestarted a uniform tight winding of the threads on the respective reelcould not be achieved with square shafts and square recesses, as all thereels would turn with the same speed.

The consumers of the yarn, for instance, cord producers, mount as manyof these reels on similar shafts and run as many fibers from individualreels if required through dispersions or solutions as can beaccommodated in the impregnating machines, leading hereafter the fibersfrom one or several adjacent reels directly and in straight line to thering or similar twisting devises to obtain the required twist. Therebynot only the previously described unpractical way of twisting thethreads which are unwound from big beams, but also the packing andtransporting of the same is avoided. The reels S0 may preferably be madeof light materials and provided with recesses 65 to reduce their weight.

(2) When twisted threads are required, l the bundles of the capillaryfibers emerging from the drying zone are directly conducted to ring orsimilar well known twisting devices, which can also be installed in twoor three superposed levels whereby increased space for bigger spools isobtained and the exchange of the spools filled with yarn against emptyspools is facilitated.

(3) My above described new horizontal continuous spinning system affordsalso a most eilicient way for the direct production of synthetic fibersof an hitherto unknown entirely new construction, namely of an endless100% direct denier spun staple fiber yarn of a predetermined denier andpredetermined number of individual filaments.

The cut fibers produced by the wet spinning.

process are neutralized, washed, purified. for instance desulphurized,or decopperized, and treated by many other uids in the same manner as 7sFig. 1. All the fiber bundles 59 produced on the 16 described above whendealing with continuous fibers, before they can be properlydried. This'drying of wet cut staple fibers requires complicated and expensivedevices, upkeep etc., due to the unfinished or embryonic stage of thedlaments, because in order to convert the same into finished fiberssuitable for the various manipulations prior to and during the realspinning in the cotton, wool, worsted, fiax spinning mills on cotton orother spinning machines, preferably all the moisture content must beremoved uniformly throughout the layers in the dryer, otherwise thefibers are damaged-during the opening.

As long as such staple fibers have been used for blending or mixing withnatural fibers or other synthetic staple fibers, for instance viscosewith wool, to diminish the quantity of wool and! or to obtain crossdyeing or other effects, it was comprehensible to a certain extent thatthe in parallel alinement produced synthetic fibers after having beencut into staple fibers were tangled up and thrown crosswise in alldirections because the natural and synthetic fiber with which the staplefiber is to be blended must be well divided and mixed and thereforeundergo anyhow the usual carding, combing, several drawing stages androvings before the yarn can be spun on the ring spinning frame or aself-acting mule.

However, since a very large percentage of staple fibers is at presentconverted into and can be sold in large quantities as a 100% staplefiber yarn, this invention solves the following important problem. Thisproblem comprises the direct production in one continuous operation onthe synthetic filament spinning or coagulating equipment and withoutrecourse to the usual preparatory and reel spinning machines now used inthe textile industry of the following new type of synthetic spun fibrousarticles:

(a) A continuous synthetic yarn made from any kind of proper startingmaterial by solidifying, hardening or coagulating, treating theiilaments, if required, and simultaneously converting the sameeventually in the same operation into a 100% finished spun yarn of apredetermined number and size of the individual filaments and diameteror denier of the finished yarn.

(b) The saine yarn as described under (a), but consisting partly offibers cut into staples and partly of a continuous synthetic thread madeat the same time from the same starting material on the same equipment.

(c) The same yarn as under (b) in which at the same time of producingthe capillary filaments there is embodied another thread or threads madefrom another kind of cut or continuous synthetic or natural fibers.

(d) A continuous synthetic staple fiber roving, top or sliver ofpredetermined number of filaments for a predetermined yarn number woundin endless packages or appropriate reels, spools or the like, suitablefor further conversion on standard spinning machines into yarn, cords,breeds, etc., as such or in combination with other synthetic staplefibers and continuous threads and/ or natural fibers and threads.

An apparatus for carrying out this important embodiment of my inventionis exemplified in Fig. 6 and will be described hereafter with referenceto its above recited four variations.

Variation a The apparatus is located in direct horizontal succession tothe spinning machine shown in 17 entire machine are discharged fromhousing 2 and conducted by conveyor rollers 58, if the producedcapillary threads do not possess a suicient rough or crimped surface orthe required interber friction to obtain a strong yarn, into a trough 66which is provided with a jacketed heating wall 61. A cylinder 68 isrotatably mounted in the trough to transport the bers through the same.An appropriate oil, for instance an oil used in blending wool, ischarged into the trough and maintained therein at a suitable temperatureand at a constant level. A nely divided non-slip resin or a similarcompound may be added to the oil capable to assist in the production ofthe above mentioned surfaceconguration. The ber bundles are furthertransported by a pair oi' rollers 11, 18. These rollers squeeze out thesurplus oil. -They are provided with heating means and with teeth orprojections 19 which exert upon the bers passing between them, ifrequired, a crimping or goffering action.

When the yarn to be produced does not require oil treatment .fortreatment with similar agents, it may be nevertheless advisable to userollers 11, 18 in order to produce the above referred to crimpingaction.

The ber bundles 59 are then transported to a roving or drawing frame.The type of this frame may be chosen in conformity with the length andthe character of the staples to be cut and the kind of yarnto beproduced. Before entering this drawing frame 88 the ber bundles areconducted in an unstretched state by smooth transport rollers 8| to aconically shaped smooth bar 82 which segregates or spreads out the bersof each bundle, and brought with the aid of rollers 83, 84 working incooperation with an adjustable transport device 86 to the roving frame80 to effect the further transport of the ber in each bundle in asubstantially straight parallel alinement into the frame 80 which is'provided with three pairs of rollers 88, 89, 90.

Before the bers of each bundle reach the drawing trame 88 they are` cutby cutter 85 into staples of desired length. The knife is adjustablymounted on its support in order to cut the bers of each ber bundleseparately into equal sections 81 of a required length, which arediagrammatically shown in Figs. '7 and 8; during the passage of the cutbers over the transport device 86 a lengthwise mutual displacement iseffected of the same whereby overlapping ends are produced, shown bydotted lines II9 in Figs. '1 and 8. This purpose may be accomplished byvarying the circumferential speed of rollers 83, 84 and of the rst pairof rollers 88 of the drawing frame 88. The formation of the overlappingends of the cut bers is important as this results in a greatly improvedcoherence of the staple bers.

The cutter for each ber bundle may be provided with two inclined cuttingedges forming between each other an approximately right angle;accordingly shaped cuts H8 are produced, as shown in Fig. '1.

The staple bers of each` individual bundle or a plurality of the sameprovided with overlapping ends forming a kind of a ribbon are conductedseparately into the drawing frame represented by three roller pairs 88,89, 90 where 18 transport devices 9| to twisting spindles oi customarydesign, such as yer 92 where they are converted into yarns.

For special purposes, e. g., the production of very ne spun syntheticber yarns of, for instance, 150 den. two installations of the type shownin Fig. 6 may be arranged in vertically superposed relationship oneabove the other. This modication of the invention is shown in Fig. 11.The cutters 85 of thetwo superposed installations are so mounted as tocut in diagonally opposite directions.

Numbering adjacent ber bundles with cur rent numbers I, 2, 3 and soforth, as shown in Fig. 2, the ber bundles with numbers I, 3, 5

each composed, for instance, of bers to produce 50 den., are cut in thelower equipment and produce bands of parallelly alined staple bers.

cut in a shape indicated as group A in Fig. 8.

The ber bundles numbered with even numbers distance from the rollersthan in the lowerl equipment; the bands of staple bers produced therebyare illustrated schematically as group B in Fig. 8. In order to obtainyarn of 150 den.. the bands of the staple ber bundles I, 2, 3 arecombined after emerging from the transport rollers 9| of the upperequipment (Fig. 11), to form a sliver consisting of two bands shaped asshown in group B and one band shaped as shown in group A and sandwichedinto a staggered product which is converted into a twisted yarn by theyer 92.

The twisting may also be accomplished with a ring twisting spindle 95,the roving being brought directly through the drafting rollers 94 to thetwisting spindle 95 and wound on the bobbin 96 shown in Fig. 12. Thethus alined overlapping sandwiched and staggered staple bers a syntheticber intermediate, such as a. top,

sliver, roving, respectively is produced from each of the ribbons. Theintermediates are transported by a, pair of transport rollers or otherwhich with their spliced ends grab the neighboring bers in the manner offangs, will even in the case of a ne product, as a, den. spun staple beryarn is, .result in the production of a thread having a tensile strengthand evenness which is not obtainable with any other system producingspun bers.

Variation b Yarns of partly cut bers and partly of continuous bers canbe produced:

(1) By using only the lower cutting equipment and cutting in the same,for instance the uneven numbered bundles I 3. 5 sandwiching between twoof them one continuous ber bundle of the even numbered bundles 2, 4, 6if. from the upper system, and conducting the same directly to thetwisting device,

(2) By using one band of cut bers and one continuous ber bundle,

(3) By using two uncut continuous bundles and one band of cut bers,

(4) By cutting with the upper or lower or bothequipments all bundles andguiding the bands of one or more ber bundles through the respectivedrawing and roving frames, adding before or during ,the twisting ofthesame a continuous untwisted or twisted thread of the same material fedfrom reels IIS, Ill, shown in Fig. l2.

Variation c `In case the thread to be produced should consist of, forinstance, 25% wool, 50% viscose and 25% of acetate and the nished threadto be of 19 the size corresponding to, for instance the size oi' athread of 1000 den., then the bers to be extruded from each spinneretteto be of 250 den.

and each of the two rovings or slivers wound on appropriate bobbins orreels 250 den. The two kinds oi' rovings are united with the band ofnbers and lead simultaneously through the drawing, roving and twistingdevices, as shown in Fig. 12. In this case the roving consisting of thethree different materials after leaving the upper rollers 9| are ledthrough the lower rollers V9| to the flyer 92 as indicated by the dottedline, and not to the upper twisting spindle and bobbin 94, Fig. 12.

Variation d It is obvious from the foregoing that my invention embracesalso the manufacture of products listed as variation d even though thesame are not converted into finished spun yarn, the essence of myinvention being the production by an uninterrupted direct or continuousprocess on a new type of equipment at a high speed of endless orcontinuous untwisted synthetic iibers with the enumerated propertieswhich are wound simultaneously in great length on special carriers andwithout unwinding .can be used as such directly on textile machines orsimultaneously twisted and wound as iinished threads in great length onappropriate carriers for the direct use on textile machines;furthermore, after having been eventually crimped, dried, etc., duringtheir production cut into staple fibers and transformed in the sameoperation into staple fiber intermediates, such as rovings or sliverspossessing a predetermined number of iibers and denier, the productionbeing carried out in a horizontal equipment on which the path ofcoagulation, the degree of stretching, shrinking, the time of treating,drying, etc., can be varied at will.

Due to the continuity of my horizontal process an access to theprecipitation bath is only required if and when a spinnerette must berenewed. The parts of the machine where gases, bad odors, vapors or thelike are generated, are entirely enclosed by housing 2 and efdcientlyventilated, access to each enclosed part being provided by openings likeIIU. The bobbins or reels when filled with yarns are exchanged for emptyones at the far end of the machine when the fibers are finished anddried.

The same advantages are achieved when iibers are produced from masseswhich are solidified by air or other gases.

It is admitted that in the latter case the manu" facture may be carriedout at a higher speed than by the wet spinning process on the standardvertical machines; however, all of the above cited drawbacks adherent tothe vertical system requiring drawing, stretching etc., of eachindividual thread by many separately driven devices and the high costsof such machines remain at a considerably increased rate. On the otherhand, the above referred to advantages of my process and the possibilityto improve the quality of the threads during their production by theeasy variation of the positive stretching and /or shrinking action, bythe impregnating, sizing or other treating action performable as onecontinuous operation with the cutting of the fibers and their conversioninto yarn oi' spun fibers are not obtainable in the hitherto customarysystem of vertical spinning.

In addition to the advantages and the advance in the art derived fromthe use of my invention in connection4 with the wet spinning processes20 the important advantage of improved sanitary conditions must beconsidered.

When in the performance of the present vertical methods a bobbin or apot is filled with threads, each oi' the many thousands of the stillacid threads must be cut and the completed bobbins or pots must bereplaced by empty ones. Depending on the size of the yarn and theproduction speed such operations must be performed very often, sometimesevery thirty minutes. The working personnel is at each exchangemanipulation exposed to the injurious action of the fumes, bad odors andgases developed from carbon disulphide and other agents given up by theviscose and/or cuprammonia, protein and the like spinning solutions,when the same enter in the coagulation bath. Everybody who is familiarwith this industry is well aware of the great number of workmen in therayon industry suffering especially from eye and similar illnesses.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isunderstood that I do not limit myself to the i specific embodimentthereof shown and described in the specification.

It is also understood that my invention is equally applicable to allmethods and apparatus where spinning masses are extruded into asolidifying medium to produce synthetic bers.

I claim:

1. A method for the continuous production of synthetic filamentscomprising extruding a spinning solution through adjacent spinnerettesinto a coagulating bath, producing by adjustment of the concentration ofthe bath ingredients partially eoagulated filaments while maintainingthe same in the bath in a separated horizontal and unsupported position,drawing the partially coagulated filaments by a multi-roller unitthrough at least one additional coagulatlng bath to complete thecoagulation, hereupon drawing the completely coagulated laments by amultiroller unit through at least one after-treating bath to produce thefinished filaments, maintaining the iilaments in the said additionalcoagulating bath and in the after-treating baths in the separatedunsupported horizontal position and under tension and subjecting thelaments during their passage through the multi-roller units to asuccessive stretching and shrinking action by said rollers.

2. A method for the continuous production oi' synthetic filamentscomprising extruding a spinning solution through adjacent spinnerettesinto a coagulating bath, producing by adjustment of the concentration ofthe bath ingredients partially coagulated filaments while maintainingthe same in the bath in a separated' horizontal and unsupportedposition, drawing the partially coagulated iilaments by a multi-rollerunit through at least one additional coagulating bath to complete thecoagulation, hereupon drawing the completely coagulated filaments by amulti-roller unit through at least one after-treating bath to producethe finished filaments, maintaining the filaments in the said additionalcoagulating bath and in the after-treating baths in the separatedunsupported horizontal position and under tension and subjecting thelaments during their passage through the multi-roller units to astretching action by said rollers andto a shrinking action.

3. A method for the continuous production of synthetic filamentscomprising extruding a spin- 21 ning solution through adjacentspinnerettes into a coagulating bath, producing by adjustment of theconcentration of the bath ingredients partially coagulated laments whilemaintaining the same in the bath in a separated horizontal andunsupported position, drawing the partialLv coagulated iilaments by amulti-roller unit through at least one-additional coagulating bath tocomplete the coagulation, hereupon drawing the completely coagulatedillaments by a multiroller unit through at least one after-treating bathto'produce the ilnished filaments, maintaining the laments in/the saidadditional coagulatlng bath and in the after-treating baths in theseparated unsupported horizontal position and under tension andsubjecting the laments during their passage through the multi-rollerunits while still containing the coagulating liquids to a successivestretching and shrinkingactionbysaid rollers.

4. A method for the continuous production of synthetic lamentscomprising extruding a spinning solution through adjacent spinnerettesinto a coagulating bath, producing by adjustment of the concentration ofthe bath ingredients partially coagulated laments while maintaining thesame in the bath in a separated horizontal and unsupported position,drawing the partially c0- agulated filaments by a multi-roller unitthrough at least one additional coagulating bath to complete thecoagulation, hereupon drawing the completely coagulated filaments by amulti-roller unit through at least one after-treating bath to producethe nished filaments, maintaining the filaments in the said additionalcoagulating bath and in the after-treating baths in the separatedunsupported horizontal position and under tension and subjecting theiilaments during their passage through the multi-roller units to amultiple stretching and shrinking actionV by said rollers.

BENNO BORZYKOWSKL vio 22 REFERENCES CITED lThe following references areof record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,777 Delubac June 1, 19091,707,164 Karplus Mar. 26, 1929 1,770,412 Leuchs July 15, 1930 1,910,879Berstein May 23, 1933 1,951,094 Koch Mar. 13, 1934 1,956,600 Taylor May1, 1934 1,957,508 Taylor May 8, 1934 2,022,961 Hoelkeskamp Dec. 3, 19352,041,338 Harrison May 19, 1936 2,053,123 Alles Sept. 1, 1936 2,090,560Ubelohde Aug. 17, 1937 2,166,740 Karplus July 18, 1939 2,199,882Inokuchi et al. May 7, 1940 2,246,735 Kline et a1 June 24, 19412,255,834 Taylor et al. Sept. 16, 1941 2,315,265 Lovett Mar. 30, 19432,317,152 Costa et al. Apr. 20, 1943 2,328,307 Thurmond Aug. 31, 19432,334,325 Heim Nov. 16, 1943 2,345,622 Mothwurf Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 124,714 Austria May 15, 1931 209,923 GermanyAug. 25, 1908 346,511 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1931 379,880 Great BritainSept. 8, 1932 379,935 France Sept. 23, 1907 499,671 Great Britain Jan.27, 1939 625,049 France Apr. 16, 1927 733,717 France July 18, 1932 OTHERREFERENCES I. R. I. Trans., 8, 316, 1933, Fiber impregnation, E. A.Hauser and Miss M. Huenermoerder. Briefed in Latex and RubberDerivatives by F. Marchionna. PD. 519-520. Copy in Div. 38.

